Oversight of legality safeguards the quality of authorities’ activities

All exercise of public powers must be based on the law, and the law must be strictly observed in all aspects of public governance. Laid down in the Constitution, the principle of conformity with the law in public governance requires that the legality of the public authorities’ activities be overseen in practice.

Each ministry is responsible for the proper functioning of administration and government within its sphere of authority.

Departments of the Ministry of the Interior oversee the legality of activities within their own areas of responsibility

At the Ministry of the Interior, the oversight of legality is organised in such a manner that the Police Department, the Department for Rescue Services, the Border Guard Department, the Migration Department, the International Affairs Unit and the National Security Unit engage in the oversight of legality in their own areas of responsibility. Agencies within the Ministry’s branch of government bear the main responsibility for practical oversight activities and the handling of matters related to the oversight of legality.

The Administration and Development Department is responsible for the general development of the oversight of legality at the Ministry and within its branch of government and, where needed, supports other departments and units in tasks related to the oversight of legality.  

The oversight of legality comprises the following measures in practice:

  • handling of administrative complaints and citizens’ letters submitted to the authority
  • investigations launched on the authority’s own initiative
  • monitoring of the processing of personal data
  • inspections
  • reporting on matters related to the oversight of legality

The Ministry of the Interior draws up an annual report on the oversight of legality at the Ministry and within its branch of government. The report is published on the Ministry’s website.

Instructions on the oversight of legality in the Ministry of the Interior’s branch of government

The Ministry of the Interior has issued instructions on the oversight of legality in the Ministry of the Interior’s branch of government. The instructions provide comprehensive information on the norms, methods, responsibilities and operating principles concerning the oversight of legality in the branch of government. The instructions are currently being updated and, on 11 December 2023, the validity of the current instructions was extended until 30 June 2024. 

A permanent working group for the development of the oversight of legality has been established at the Ministry of the Interior. The working group consists of representatives from the Ministry’s departments, the units directly under the Permanent Secretary and the following agencies within the Ministry’s branch of government: the National Police Board, the Finnish Border Guard, the Emergency Response Centre Agency, the Finnish Immigration Service, the Finnish Security and Intelligence Service, the Emergency Services Academy Finland and the Crisis Management Centre Finland.

The supreme overseers of legality monitor activities in the Ministry of the Interior’s branch of government

The Parliamentary Ombudsman and the Chancellor of Justice oversee operations within the Ministry of the Interior’s branch of government on an annual basis. As part of such oversight, the Ministry and its agencies must regularly submit reports and statements to the supreme overseers of legality. Decisions taken by the supreme overseers of legality are also followed closely within the Ministry.  

The activities of the Ministry and its branch of government are also overseen by the Data Protection Ombudsman, the Intelligence Ombudsman, the Non-Discrimination Ombudsman and the National Audit Office of Finland.